Digital Learning Department

Our credit retrieval courses have been designed to be completed within a 6-week session. Although we encourage all students to formulate a plan to complete the course within six (6) weeks, we do allow students up to a maximum of twelve (12) weeks to complete the course.

This is a six-week credit retrieval course for students who have already taken this class and not earned credit.. A diagnostic assessment, given at the beginning of the course, indicates what standards have been met, and what skills need to be practiced and demonstrated. Based on the results of the diagnostic assessment, an individual plan for completing the course is developed by the teacher and communicated to the student. Upon successful completion of the course, the student earns a passing grade (C) and .5 credit in Biology 2.

Biology 2 is the second semester of a full year of science course offering an overview of classification, the five kingdoms of organisms, and ecosystems. A semester final and an essay will be required.

This course helps meet the state minimum requirements of 2.0 Science credits in addition to filling a lab requirement. Please check with your district for more specific requirements.

State Standards and Learning Expectations [top]

Objectives stated within course lessons. Washington State Standards guided the design of the course. Learning expectations are found within the course itself.

 

From Benchmark 3 of the Washington State Science Standards:

1. The student understands and uses scientific concepts and principles.
2. The student knows and applies the skills and processes of science and technology.
3. The student understands the nature and contexts of science and technology.

Washington State Standards

From Benchmark 3 of the Washington State Science Standards:

The student understands and uses scientific concepts and principles.

The student knows and applies the skills and processes of science and technology.

The student understands the nature and contexts of science and technology.

 

Course Outline [top]

 

Unit 1 Classification
Unit 2 Bacteria and Viruses
Unit 3 Protists and Fungi
Unit 4 Plants
Unit 5 Animals
Unit 6 Ecosystems

 

Course Work [top]

 

Students are expected to put in 6-8 hours per week to complete their lessons. Lessons should be turned in as soon as they are completed and not submitted in bulk at the last minute.

 

Grading Description [top]

 

The goal is for students to meet standards and earn credit for this class. Assignments that meet standards are marked as passing in the gradebook. If needed, the student is given instructions to revise an assignment in order to demonstrate that standards have been met. Grades are regularly posted online for student and parent access.

Completion of all required assignments in a satisfactory manner, within the six week session, results in a passing grade (C) and .5 credit earned.

 

Policies and Requirements [top]

 

Establishing a consistent schedule to work daily provides the student the opportunity for maximum teacher interaction, revision, and successful completion of their learning plan and earned credit.

Academic integrity is essential to learning. Students are expected to complete their own work. Copying, plagiarizing, cheating or other methods of intentional deception are prohibited and may result in loss of grade or credit for the assignment or the course.

Expectations for assignment and course completion: IA students assume the major responsibility to be self-motivated, and to stay on target with the class. All work for the course must be completed at a passing level to earn credit, and must be completed within the 6 week session. Students are expected to work consistently with their instructor and their individual learning plan, to successfully complete the class. Successful students use their online gradebook and checklist to determine required assignments.

Students are given the feedback needed to revise assignments to meet standards. Students who wait until the end of the session to turn in the majority of their assignments lose this opportunity and risk successful completion of the course.

E-mail and software agreements: Students agree to maintain electronic integrity and face disciplinary measures if they do not abide by their promise.

Teachers reserve the right to make adjustments to the course content and expectations.

 

 

Expectations [top]

Students taking this class are expected to:

1. Stay in contact with their instructor daily. This lets the Internet Academy, parents and guardians, the school district, and the state know that students are attending class. It also helps students move at a steady pace toward completing the class within the six week timeframe.
2. Have the computer hardware and software necessary for the class work.
3. Communicate with the instructor in a clear, friendly, courteous manner. This includes signing communications with their full name and the name of the class they are in.
4. Communicate in Standard English. "e-english," the informal, lower-case, run-together communications used in chat rooms, is appropriate for the audiences and purposes of some e-mail. It is not appropriate for communicating with an instructor in class.
5. Turn in original work. Internet Academy teachers monitor for intentional deception through the use of an on-line subscription service and IA email archives. The consequences for intentional deception (copying, plagiarism, cheating, using someone else's work) may result in:
   • No credit for the assignment
   • Parent contact
   • Proctored testing
   • Failing the course
6. Do their very best work at all times.
7. Proceed at a steady pace toward finishing the class.
8. Have fun writing, reading, and learning!!

The instructor of this course is expected to:

1. Know the course material.
2. Communicate at least weekly with students and guardians in a clear, friendly, and courteous manner.
3. Respond to emails within a reasonable amount of time. It is your instructor's goal to answer QUESTIONS and HELP requests within 24 hours during the school week. Assignments will be graded and returned within two-three school days of receipt.
4. Be available for appointments and return phone calls promptly..
5. Keep accurate records.
6. Encourage and maintain high standards.
7. Help make learning fun!

Tech Support:

• Tech Help
  • 253-945-2249
  • helpdesk@iacademy.org

Weekly Contact Requirements: Students are expected to submit work each week following the provided checklist. They are also expected to maintain weekly communication with their teacher, ask for assistance when needed, and respond to e-mails from the teacher. If they are having trouble keeping up with the checklist, they should email their teacher immediately. The teacher is flexible and willing to work with students to meet their needs as they are communicated. If students are unable to meet these expectations, they will be dropped from the class for lack of attendance.